THECUBAREVIEW 13 



regarding deposits of chrome and manganese ore, which are used in the manufacture of high 

 grade steel. There are several such deposits in the island and considerable shii)ments of 

 manganese are made from the Eastern part. 



"VVe have had occasion to mention in the ])ast the haul times the tobacco manufacturers 

 are experiencing on accoimt of war conditions, the exportation of cigars via Havana, for in- 

 stance, during 1917 being some 10,000,000 less than the i)rcvious year. For the month of 

 January of the present year, however, there was a considerable increase in all lines of the busi- 

 ness over the corresponding month of 1917. On the other hand, the shortage of ships in which 

 to make these shipments is now greater than ever and is a disquieting feature in this trade. 



Newspapers report the organization of the Cuban Transatlantic Co. to own and operate 

 steamers between Cuba and foreign ports, but we cannot learn that they have as yet actually 

 begun business. 



The United Railways have recently completed at Regla, across the bay from Havana, a 

 new ferry slip for the use of the ferry boats from Key West. For some time past two ferries 

 havebaen oporated in this seivice and we understand it is now the intention to have sugar ma- 

 chinery and other shipments destined to interior Cuban points loaded on the ferry which will 

 dock at the Regla slip, thus facilitating the forwarding of the loaded cars from this port, while 

 local Havana shipments by ferry will be discharged at the Arsenal slip as at present. 



The Banco Espafiol de la Isla de Cuba and interests connected therewith have been in- 

 strumental in consolidating a number of local industries recently, thus forming sort of trusts in 

 their respective lines. Among these new companies are the "Industrial Sombrerera" composed 

 of a number of the largest hat manufacturers; the "Compania Nacional de C'alzado," made up 

 of shoe factories; the "Compania Manufacturers Nacional," consisting of the principal manu- 

 facturers of candies, chocolate, crackers, etc.; the "Papelera Cubana" manufacturing paper 

 from imported wood pulp; the "United States and Cuban Allied Works and Engineering 

 Corporation," to operate the Krajewski-Pesant Corporation interests, the Havana Dry Docks 

 Co., Havana Iron Works, and other similar lines; the "Cienfuegos, Palmira & Cruces Electric 

 Railway & Power Co.," which title explains itself; as well as a combination of the principal 

 liquor manufacturers and distillers. 



This same bank and allied interests are also largely interested in the Cuban Telephone Co., 

 which has a monopoly of the telephone business throughout the entire island ; the Cuban Tire 

 & Rubber Co., which recently began the manufacture of rubber automobile tires, etc.; the 

 "Empresa Naviera Cubana," the principal coastwise shipping Co.; the "Comi)ania de Pesca 

 y Navegacion," composed of the principal fishing companies and their fleets; the "Unon His- 

 pano- Americana de Seguros," doing a general insurance business; and the Port of Havana 

 Docks Co., one of the principal wharf and warehouse companies in Havana. 



Mr. H. H. Morgan, representative in Cuba of the Ward Trade Board of the United States, 

 has just made public the following list of foodstuffs allotted to Cuba during March: 



Wheat flour, barrels 50,000 



Corn, bushels 500,000 



Beef, pounds 1,000,000 



Pork, pounds 1,000,000 



Oleomargarine, pounds 50,000 



Cottonseed oil, pounds 3,500,000 



Lard, pounds 750,000 



Lard compound, pounds 1,200,000 



Condensed milk, pounds 3,000,000 



Oats and foreign lice will be licensed freely. No licenses will be issued for cornmeal, oat 

 meal, bread, biscuits, barley, ham, bacon and butter. 



Since our last letter there have been slightly increased imports of flour and lard, but 

 neither of these articles are yet on sale generally and the few bakers who have been furnished 

 flour have not been able to even supply their former customers. There is also now a great 

 shortage of both condensed and evaporated milk. 



Due to the shortage in Cuba of grain impoits from the I'nited States, a small sailing vessel 

 recently arrived from Venezuela with some 3,500 sacks of corn, which is the first shipment of 

 this commodity from that republic. 



